Lodi to hire police officer to patrol parks

LODI - A police officer will be hired to patrol Lodi parks by springtime.

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By Keith Reid

recordnet.com

By Keith Reid

Posted Dec. 26, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Keith Reid

Posted Dec. 26, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

LODI - A police officer will be hired to patrol Lodi parks by springtime.

The city posted a job advertisement for a part-time parks police officer on its website Monday, and applications are being accepted for qualified officers.

"It will be a fully sworn police officer under the supervision of the police department," said Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Jeff Hood. "It could be a retired police officer or sheriff's deputy. I think we'll see pretty high demand for the job."

The part-time officer will likely spend the bulk of his or her time at Lodi Lake to prevent gang activity and other problems. The officer could make rounds to other parks or be called to respond to crimes elsewhere, such as calls regarding drug use or other disturbances at Kofu Skate Park.

The officer will also provide security for the new surface water treatment facility just west of Lodi Lake, and be used to enforce other rules and ordinances at the parks. For example, people aren't allowed to take dogs into the Lodi Lake nature trail because they carry diseases that can be lethal to foxes, Hood said.

The officer will also enforce parking fees at the lake after the city implements a new self-pay policy in 2013.

Lodi Police Lt. Chris Piombo said the department had a park ranger program in the past, but it was cut because of budget constraints.

"What this will do is allow us to be more proactive instead of reactive," Piombo said. "Right now, we respond to calls at the parks, but we can't be there to proactively prevent crimes on a regular basis."

The job pays between $30.55 and $33.68 an hour, paid out of the PRCS department and Public Works, which operates the water plant, Hood said.